Independent arbitrators have cleared former Cricket South Africa director of cricket Graeme Smith of racism allegations.
Allegations from former Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Thami Tsolekile – and others – happened during CSA’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) process.
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What advocate Ngwako Maenetje ruled
- There was no evidentiary basis to conclude that Smith engaged in racial discrimination against Tsolekile during the period 2012 to 2014;
- There was no evidentiary basis to conclude that Smith was racially biased against black leadership at CSA; and
- There was no evidentiary basis to conclude Smith’s appointment of Mark Boucher, rather than Enoch Nkwe, as coach of the Proteas team in 2019 amounted to unfair racial discrimination.
What CSA board chairman Lawson Naidoo said
“The manner in which these issues have been dealt with and resolved by the arbitration proceedings confirms CSA’s commitment to deal with the SJN issues in a manner that treats them with utmost seriousness, but also ensures fairness, due process and finality,” said Naidoo.
“Now that finality on these processes has been reached, it is appropriate to recognise the extraordinary contribution that Graeme has made to South African cricket, first as the longest-serving Test captain in cricket history and then as director of cricket from 2019 to 2022.
“His role as the DoC has been critical in rebuilding the Proteas team in particular and has laid a solid foundation for his successor.
“We fully appreciate that after his time as the DoC, Graeme wants new challenges in the commercial and cricket worlds. He has a long career ahead of him and we very much hope that he will still work in the cricket world in appropriate capacities going forward.
What CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said
“On behalf of the executive committee, staff and players at CSA, I would like to thank Graeme for all that he did as the director of cricket. He put up his hand at a particularly tumultuous period for CSA and he has often gone beyond his contracted duties to assist CSA during his term,” added Moseki.